Now, some of you might be wondering about that cute little picture over there.  Although Shirley is very definitely a cat person, I am very definitely a dog person.  I have been without a dog for some time now, for various reasons, but thought it was about time I had one back in my life.  I have always had big dogs, and planned to again.  Then, a friend who knew I was looking for a dog called me and said she knew of a lady whose Miniature Schnauzer had a litter of pups and there was just one puppy left.  She said it was a Miniature Schnauzer/Maltese mix.  I said, aghast, isn't that a small dog, she said yes, but let's go look anyway.  So, because I am easily swayed,  a couple of days after Christmas she and I went trudging through the snow to see this pup that I was sure I would never get. 

We walked into the house and this little girl came trotting up to me - me, not my friend, me - and started jumping.  Hmmmmmmm, I thought.  Really small, Pretty Cute though.   Then we went into the living room and this pretty cute little pup was trying to get in my lap.  Hmmmmm, I thought, maybe I should pick her up.  She is pretty cute.  Next thing you know, she's licking and biting and jumping on my lap.  Burrowing into my arms as if she belonged there.  I told myself to be strong, this would be just a little dog, a wimp, whining and wanting to be held all the time - yes, be strong. 

Next thing she does is jump down and run around my legs wanting to play with me.  Me, no one else, me.  So, by this time I'm pretty sure my resolve is failing, I'm panicking, a little wimpy dog, for me, a dog that wants to wear clothes, eat at the table, be carried everywhere, could I possibly????  Then something happened that left me at ease.  The woman with the puppies had children that were playing with their Christmas toys.  While the little girl pup was running around, the three year old little boy shot her with a Nerf arrow, in fact, she was so small she fell over.  He got in trouble for doing it of course, but what impressed me was the fact that the pup stood up, looked at him, shook herself and came running back to me to play.  To me.  Not a second thought that she had just been shot! 

Where did I get the idea that all little dogs were wimps?  I don't know, probably from TV, but it seems I have been wrong.  Hmmmmmmm.

I did not choose a dog that day, the dog chose me.  I have spent the last few weeks potty training, teaching commands like sit, down and shake, and, the most important lesson of all, which she still has not learned - I am your person, NOT a chew toy!  

Oh, as for being a wimp, not a chance.  She does like to be held, but mostly when she naps.  She loves to be outside and runs and runs and runs.  I have found out now that she loves the snow (the above picture was right after one of her romps in the snow).  I was afraid to put her out yesterday because the snow was pretty high, almost up to her belly.  She had to go out though so I opened the door and she looked out tentatively.  She took a few steps out and then jumped off the stairs to run around in the snow.  I could barely get her in!  This morning though, the snow was almost up to her back.  I was sure she wouldn't go out and was ready to get out some newspaper, I didn't blame her one bit. She wanted to go out though, so I opened the door and she looked out tentatively.  She took a few steps out and then jumped off the stairs to run around in the snow.  Well, not run really, jump, since the snow was so high.  I could barely get her in - again!  That will teach me to believe in stereotypes! Sorry to all the little dog lovers in the world, someone should have told me!

So, meet Katie.  My -little- Miniature Schnauzer/Maltese pup.  Who is already much loved. (also missing at the moment - better go find her, she's probably eating my bed (one of the few things that haven't been placed on a shelf or top of the fridge or desk or something!)!